In a disappointing turn of events, the Nigeria Rugby national team, known as the Black Stallions, has been eliminated from contention for the Paris 2024 Olympics after securing an eighth-place finish at the Africa Cup 7s qualifier held in Zimbabwe.
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Nigeria found itself in a challenging group alongside formidable opponents Kenya, Namibia, and Zambia in pool B of the tournament, featuring a total of 20 competing teams.
The Black Stallions, under the guidance of Coach Steve Lewis, faced an uphill battle throughout the competition. Their journey was halted in the quarterfinals when they suffered a 27-0 defeat to South Africa, a powerhouse in African rugby.
In the 5th place event, Nigeria encountered another setback, losing 29-13 to Zambia. Their struggles continued in the 7th place match, where they were defeated by Madagascar, ultimately culminating in an eighth-place finish at the championship.
Kenya emerged victorious at the Zimbabwe 2023 Africa Rugby 7s Olympics qualifier, securing the coveted automatic ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, it’s not the end of the road for South Africa and Uganda, who claimed the second and third places in the African qualifier.
South Africa and Uganda will now progress to the next phase of qualification, where they will face the second and third-place teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America, and South America.
This qualification round is scheduled for June 2024, with the ultimate goal of securing the final slot for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
While the Black Stallions’ dreams of Olympic participation have been dashed, their journey and participation in the Africa Cup 7s qualifier represent a significant step forward for rugby in Nigeria.
The experience gained from competing on the continental stage will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of rugby in the country, laying the foundation for future success.
